Volunteers sought to pack holiday boxes for troops

Courier Leader - Volunteers sought to pack holiday boxes for troops:
"By: Paul Garrod 11/05/2007
Paw Paw - The Blue Star Mothers of America, Inc. Southwest Chapter 179 will hold a Christmas Open House, Saturday, Nov. 10. from 1 to 4 p.m. at Paw Paw High School. The group will be packing donations to send to troops. 'The items will be boxed in an assembly line fashion,' said De Roo. Donation collection boxes have been set up throughout the area, according to De Roo. Some of the items being collected include: stationary and hand-held games, microwave meals, Kool-Aid drinks in stick packs, microwave popcorn, M & M's (peanut), Slim Jims Beef Jerky, Velveeta cheese and Ritz crackers, Oreo cookies, Chapstick, sunscreen, white and black socks, double and triple A batteries, and phone cards. Anyone needing items picked up may contact De Roo at 657-5054. Also during that time, service members and their families will be on hand to share their experiences, according to Laura De Roo, president of the local chapter, which was formed in memory of her son, Sgt. Gabriel G. De Roo, who was killed in Iraq in 2006. Financial donations will be accepted to help offset shipping expenses. Donations may be made payable to: Blue Star Mothers 179, and may be mailed to Blue Star Mothers 179, P.O. Box 406, Paw Paw, Mich., 49079. "